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Original poster

To be mad at Starbucks hosting a musical baby morning

379 replies

imnotreally · 16/01/2018 12:46

My local Starbucks is located on the junction of an A road, just outside of town. People go there to work or to take business meetings. It also happens to be near the towns crematorium so a lot of mourners stop there for a coffee. I go because it’s a grown up coffee, away from the kids, I can have peace and quiet and think or work.

This morning I got there and half the seating was reserved. It turned out that a large portion of the seating area was being turned into a mother and baby/toddler group. Ok, fair enough but not really what you expect from a place where professionals meet. Then came the music. Loud kids music which involved clapping and singing along.

Am I being unreasonable to think they picked a totally inappropriate place and Starbucks are crazy to have arranged it?!

OP posts:
PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 17/01/2018 14:26

All these PP objecting to people doing business in a café: last Saturday, DD 10 was interviewed for the National Crime Survey in the Sainsbury's café, because we didn't want the woman invading our space on a Saturday. I should imagine that sometimes a café is the best place to do business.

notacooldad · 17/01/2018 14:27

Starbucks is for adults, it's quiet, it's peaceful it's a place to get away from children.
I'm not convinced that is written its mission statement!!!
I guess it depends which Starbucks you go to.
The one on the edge of an estate is used by teens, social workers taking children there for a 1:1session and family groups.
Any buisness is going to be open to new ideas to maximise profits. This venture may or may not work out but fair play for giving it a go.

EggsonHeads · 17/01/2018 14:28

I would be a bit Hmm. It's not very good business sense.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 17/01/2018 14:30

Orig I quote: Starbucks is for adults, it's quiet, it's peaceful, it's a place to get away from children.

Andrewofgg · 17/01/2018 14:58

Starbucks only care about the money.

You'd think they were a business . . .

LemonShark · 17/01/2018 15:06

I would say that's implied by the phrase 'they only care about the money' Hmm, or did you mistakenly think they were a charity? Bless

betgilroy · 17/01/2018 15:17

I'd walk out.
Fair enough if they had an actual room to one side or something but I would say the average person does want to go there for a quiet coffee whether meeting a friend, taking a few calls or wanting quiet time.
It's not somewhere you'd want to have a coffee by listening to a party of toddlers with music!
The music they play (and sell) in Starbucks is always laid back easy listening stuff so having noisy kiddy music groups kinda goes against this doesnt it?

Snowdrop18 · 17/01/2018 15:35

zeezeek "The world does not revolve around children"

actually it does now. it shouldn't but it does and I can't see it ever changing. There is nowhere that doesn't allow children during the day, it's a fecking nightmare.

QueenNefertitty · 17/01/2018 15:38

Starbucks is actually signed up to the NCT breastfeeding friendly initiative. Clearly NOT positioning itself as an "adult" space- to whichever knobjockey thought coffee shops were for 18+ only.

grannytomine · 17/01/2018 15:48

There are a lot of naive people on this thread who seem to have a weird view of 'business', believing all business or workplace interactions between colleagues or people from different companies takes place in an office. You must never have been to a busy city during the weekday and seen how many causes work related meet ups and interactions happen not just in the office but also in coffee shops, bars and restaurants!

That's fine but if you want to control who can be in the room or what noise they are allowed to make then a coffee shop isnt the right place, you need to have an office or hire a room or go somewhere that agrees with your view of the world.

grannytomine · 17/01/2018 15:50

Yes, I'm a professional and I'm very happy to be described that way. I've spent 30 years working in my field and am pleased with what I've achieved. And I will go to a coffee shop for a meeting if I choose to Good for you but you won't be able to dictate who else goes there. The world doesn't revolve round you.

Sephi1 · 17/01/2018 15:55

That's fine but if you want to control who can be in the room or what noise they are allowed to make then a coffee shop isnt the right place, you need to have an office or hire a room or go somewhere that agrees with your view of the world.
Agree. I can't imagine taking a client to the bustling, noisy Starbucks, or any of the other chain coffee shops, for a chat. We still go for coffee, on occasion, but a more appropriate environment (as I mentioned up thread).

RhiannonOHara · 17/01/2018 16:01

if you want to control who can be in the room or what noise they are allowed to make then a coffee shop isnt the right place, you need to have an office or hire a room or go somewhere that agrees with your view of the world.

The post you're referring to wasn't about 'controlling who can be in the room or what noise they are allowed to make' Hmm. It was in response to those throwing up their hands in horror at the notion of work-related conversations happening anywhere than in an office or other workplace.

Polarbear46 · 17/01/2018 16:03

Starbucks is for adults, it's quiet, it's peaceful it's a place to get away from children

is it pish!

Sephi1 · 17/01/2018 16:06

That's true, polar. They're rarely quiet places these chain coffee shops. You're lucky to secure a seat at times.

RhiannonOHara · 17/01/2018 16:18

TBF the OP's point was that HER local one is good for 'a grown up coffee, away from the kids' and she 'can have peace and quiet'. She's not claiming that all Starbucks are the same.

scottishdiem · 17/01/2018 16:37

But if the yummy mummies, their prams, and smelly nappy creators have moved to a Starbucks, surely that means the decent coffee shops are now free?

lisahpost · 17/01/2018 17:31

Oh please that is ridiculous what the hell is up with mother baby groups doing singing and loud crap in cafes ???? That’s what playgroups are for for goodness sakes not a Starbucks .
I was sat in one in the business park so literally mostly all businesses around and a couple of three /four year olds were literally screaming running round while mummy’s sat chatting with coffee . In the end I lost my shit and asked them if they actually thought it was a playground ! I do mean screaming and running with no attempt to even stop them like it was normal !

Cafes are for relaxing and drinking and eating not dealing with other people’s offspring the won’t control. (And I have no problem with parents TRYING to deal with a difficult kid at all only the ones who make zero effort and feel entitled to have their little darlings make as much noise as they like )

LadyBunnysWig · 17/01/2018 17:32

For Christ's sake, can't we just agree and live and let bloody live?
Some people have a problem with table hogging, latte nursing, laptop spreading selfish arseholes, some people have a problem with parents and children running around and making noise, taking over with their pram s.
Either way, bitching about what you think the real meaning of a coffee shop is, does not change a thing. Starbucks will allow everyone in. If you don't like the crowd, go somewhere else!

LadyBunnysWig · 17/01/2018 17:37

That’s what playgroups are for for goodness sakes not a Starbucks .

Where I live playgroups are closing left right and centre due to lack of funding yet coffee shops at off peak times are less than 1/3 full and new ones open up all the time. Where do you expect them to go?
If you want the next generation to turn into canny, well rounded people then it's probably best we let them get out the house every once in a while and socialise rather than locking them up in their homes so they don't go near folks like you.

icenasliceplease · 17/01/2018 17:39

Most people want peace and quiet in a coffee shop.
It's a break from shopping or work.
Musical coffee morning? Sounds like hell.
Surely all this The wheels on the bus go round and round bollocks
Surely that's what toddler group is for?

icenasliceplease · 17/01/2018 17:41

So professionals can hold meetings there but mums/babies having an entertaining time are frowned upon.

Toddler group.
You get coffee, tea and biscuits at toddler groups.
Leave the coffee shops to the grownups.

Seasideshirl · 17/01/2018 17:46

They usually do groups like this in our local library. I noticed something similar in our local Costa. No music but lots of parents and babies gathering. I must admit I found a place as far away from them as possible. I understand you.

LemonShark · 17/01/2018 17:49

Thanks for grabbing that post before I got back to the thread RhiannonOHara, there are some serious problems with reading comprehension today Wink

lisahpost · 17/01/2018 17:52

LadyBunnysWig
I have no issue with them being there but music and noise is rude as hell in a cafe .
I have five myself and teach them to be mindful of others . The entitled crap regarding kids now days is appalling. I use cafes and coffee shops for hours a day each day to homeschool some of mine (and no I don’t hog plugs and I buy lots in there to be fair to the establishment I’m using the tables and electric of ) and they never ever disturb others and they understand how to socialise appropriately for the setting they are in.
Playgroups closing means finding places appropriate for loud meeting not going into cafes and coffee houses to sing and make noise !
How on Earth is the younger generation supposed to learn social acceptability if everything is bent to their needs and whims ?

Like I said if a child is being nosiey or having a tantrum and parent is trying their best if not mind and if offer help but it’s about the ones that think their kids are entitled to be nosiey and rude

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